Means for attaching heels to shoes



June 18, 1935. 0. E. COOL MEANS FOR ATTACHING HEELS TO SHOES Filed Feb. 4, 1953 Patented June 18 1935 UNITED STATES MEANS FoR ATTACHING HEELS T0 SHOES David,E. Cool, St. Louis, Mo. Application February 4, 1933, Serial No. 655,153 4 Claims. (01. 36-34) This invention relates generally to shoes and ore specifically to an improved method and improved means for attaching French and other types of high heels formed of wood to womens shoes, the predominant object of the invention being to provide an improved method and improved means for attaching high wood heels to shoes whereby said heels are more securely held in place than was the case with high heels secured to shoes in accordance with the practices heretofore followed. I

Prior to this invention considerable trouble and annoyance was caused by high heels of womens shoes being pulled loose from the shoes during use thereof. This was particularly true of wood heels which, because of the danger of splitting said wood heels when same were being applied to the shoes, had to be applied to "the shoes in accordance with methods which did not always afford the desired security of 'attachment. The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved method and improved means for attaching wood heels to womens shoes in a very secure manner, and this secure attachment of the heels is attained without danger of splitting the heels when same are applied to the shoes.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary. view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a womans shoe and illustrating the heel of said shoe attached to the shoe in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the improved heel attaching means as same appears prior to final attachment of the heel.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the heel attaching means after final attachment of the heel has taken place.

In the drawing, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates a womans shoe of ordinary construction, said shoe A being provided with a high heel B formed of wood or like material. The shoe A is provided with the usual outsole C, insole D, upper E, counter F, and lining G, but as these shoe parts have no reference to the present invention they are illustrated and referred to herein solely so that a clear understanding of the invention may be had.

Formed through the insole and outsole of the shoe A and extended downwardly into the heel 13 thereof is a hole I which may be produced by drilling or otherwise. The hole I terminates in a closed lower end whichis located some distance below the top face-of the heel B." -Arranged in the hole I is an elongated'sleeve 2 nular, outstanding flange 3. The" sleeve 2 is' formed from metal or other suitable material, and preferably the flange 3 constitutesan integral part of said sleeve. As shownclearly in Figures 1,3 and4 of the drawing, the flange '3 is disposed with respect to the major axis of the sleeve 2 at an angle other than a right' angle so that the top face'of said' flange maybe arranged parallel with relation to-the top face of the insole D of the shoe A. Also 'asshown in the views mentionedthe flange 3 is countersunk in the insole so that no protuberance is present at the face of the insole which would cause discomfort to the wearer of the-shoe;

Formed at the lower end of the sleeve 2 is a plurality of prongs or teeth-likeextensions 4,

' which preferably constitute integral portionsof the sleeve. The sleeve 2 is so formed that each of the prongs or teeth-like extensions is curved inwardly before the sleeve is finally applied to a shoe, as shown most clearly in Figure 3; in other words at its extreme lower end the sleeve 2 is provided with a broken or interrupted, annular depression, the interruptions of which oc-- cur between the prongs or teeth-like extensions. 4. Thecurvatures of the prongs or teeth-like extensions are designated in Figure 3 by the reference character 5.

In applying heels to shoes in accordance with this invention the heels are temporarily attached to the shoes and the holes I are produced by drilling or otherwise, said holes, as already explained herein, being formed through the insoles and outsoles and being extended into the heels of the shoes. The sleeves 2 are then arranged in the holes so that the flanges 3 thereof are properly seated with respect to the insoles. The final step of actually attaching a heel to a shoe in accordance with the invention is accomplished by introducing a suitable tool T into the sleeve and forcibly moving same downwardly through said sleeve. When the downwardly moving tool T contacts with the curved inner faces of the prongs 4, said prongs are cammed outwardly with the result that the sharp ends of said prongs are forced into the wood heel at the face of the opening I as shown in Figures 1 and 4. In this manner, the sleeve 2 is securely attached to the heel, and because the sleeve at its upper end is firmly connected to the insole and outsole of the shoe a very which is provided at its upper end withan'ansecure attachment of the heel to the shoe proper is obtained. The tool T may be operated in any suitable manner when a heel is being attached to a shoe in accordance with this invention; that is to say said tool may be manually operated, or, it may be a part of a suitable machine which may be employed in attaching the heels to the shoes. Preferably, however,. I desire the tool T to be provided with a shoulder T which will contactwith theuflanges ofthe sleeves 2 soas to limit downward movement of the tool with respect to the sleeves.

I claim:

1. A device for attaching a heel to a shoe com prising a hollow element whichis arranged ,in. alined openings formed in the sole portionand the heel of the shoe, a flange at one end of said hollow element adapted to engage; the sole portion of the shoe, said flange being countersunk in the sole portion of the shoe so that the top face i of- ,the flange, is substantially flush with the .top face of, the soleportion .of. the shoe, and

.di splaceable portions adaptedto be forced out- .wardly so as )to. be embedded inthe material of the heel, said jdisplaceable portionsgbeing provided .with curved faces adapted to receive in contact therewith a tool which is moved through said hollow, element for the purpose ofmoving said,,displaceableportions outwardly. 2. A device for attaching a heel to a shoe comprising a hol1owgelement which is arranged in alined.openingsgformed in the sole portion and the heel of theshoe, a flange at one end of said hollowelement adapted to engage the sole portion of the shoe, saidflange being countersunlg in the sole portion of the shoe so thatthe ap -a ,of, the flangepis substantially flush with the ;top;face of the sole portion of the shoe,.and displaceablegportions in the form of prongs adaptedtobe forced outwardly so as to be em- ,bedded,;in -the material of the-heel, said displaceable portions being provided with offset .top face of the flange is substantially flush with the top face of the sole portion of the shoe,

and;displaceable; portions adapted to be forced outwardly so as to be embedded in the material 7 of "the'heel, said displaceable portions being 10-.

catedat an end of said hollow element and being provided with offset facesadapted to receive in contact therewith a tool which is moved through said hollow element for the purpose of moving said displaceableportions outwardly;

A. A device for attaching a heel to a shoe comprising a hollow element which is arranged in alined openings formed: in the soleportion and.

the heel of the. shoe, a flange atone end of said hollow element adapted to; engageythe sole portion of the shoe, saidfiange being-countersunk in the sole portion of the shoe; so that=the,.top face of thefiange is substantially flush with :the

top face of the sole portion of theshoe, and displaceable portions at the opposite end .of: said hollow element. adapted to be forced outwardly so asto be embedded in the material .of the heel, said displaceable portions being curved longitudinally of the sleeve and curved faces-there,-

of being adapted to receive in contact therewith a tool which is moved through said hollow element whereby said displaceable portions are moved outwardly. g V

DAVID EPCOOL, 

